Tool manufacturers meet int'l buyers one-on-one

Machine tool and bicycle manufacturers held one-on-one procurement meetings with international buyers in Taichung City yesterday, seeking to get more business from them.

The meetings were part of the "Procurement Meeting Week" event held by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), which brought foreign buyers from various countries including Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, Dubai, Turkey, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and Colombia. The buyers talked face-to-face with Taichung's machine tool and bicycle manufacturers to find the supplies they need.

Local manufacturers attached great importance to the meetings. They were seen carrying their suitcases, prototypes and products to the venue of the meetings, seeking more business opportunities from the buyers.

"Most of the buyers are from Asia, which is a good thing considering business from Europe has been dwindling, in the wake of the European debt crisis," said a machine tool manufacturer surnamed Yu.

"Given declining exports to Europe, most of us are now looking for business opportunities from Asia, the Middle East and other emerging markets," he said. "Now that these buyers have come to Taiwan themselves, we do not want to miss out on this special opportunity."

TAITRA, meanwhile, said it was happy to bring foreign buyers to Taiwan.

"In the past, we had always formed delegations and taken them abroad to seek opportunities," TAITRA said. "By bringing buyers here we facilitate local manufacturers, who can discuss business right here at home."